Laura Kelly is the Software Engineer II at Rapid7.
Here, Laura sits down with Sync NI to take part in the Tech Trailblazer challenge, discussing her pathway into a career in tech, what a day in her life looks like, and why Rapid7 is a great company to foster growth and develop talent.
Have you always had an interest in technology, and was there a specific person or particular event that led you into your current role?
I always loved problem solving growing up but there were 2 specific teachers that really inspired me to get into technology. My P.5 teacher Martin Daly first introduced me to building websites and figuring out how computers work, and my A Level Computing teacher Owen Gribben instilled a love of programming that led me to where I am now. Without either of them I wouldn’t be a Software Engineer.
What would you consider to be the most enjoyable and rewarding aspects of your job?
The most enjoyable part of my job is the satisfaction of solving really hard problems. At our core, software engineers are just puzzle solvers, and the most rewarding thing is solving a really frustrating, difficult problem knowing that the solution is going to fix customer issues and engineering pain.
In terms of career development, how important is it to build a professional network and attend industry events?
I can’t understate how important it is to build out your professional network, especially as a woman in a male dominated industry, I’ve met some of my biggest allies at events like Women Techmakers Belfast and NIDC. It's at these types of events that you really see the strength of the Tech Community in Northern Ireland and you get to learn from industry experts and build your network.
READ MORE: Tech Trailblazer: Sevvy Yousef, Software Engineer, Rapid 7
How much impact can a mentor have on your personal development?
Personally, having good mentors has been incredibly beneficial for my personal development. I think I would have struggled a lot in my career if it weren’t for having mentors giving me advice, reassuring me that I was doing well and helping me define my goals and pursuing them.
What guidance would you offer to any young person on why they should consider a career in technology?
There’s so many opportunities in this industry and it's changing all the time. I can guarantee that if you come into it with a good attitude and desire to learn then there’s absolutely a role here for you. Just go for it!
What advice would you give to women considering a career change or return to work but are daunted by the prospect of working in what can be perceived as a male-dominated industry?
I think it comes back to getting involved in the community. Go to the meetups and conferences before returning to work or making the career change. Talk to women currently in the industry, find out what companies are offering, what their experiences are, and what advice they’d give. The tech community in NI is full of really supportive and knowledgeable folks willing to chat.
For those who may not come from a STEM background, what other career opportunities exist within the tech sector beyond software engineering?
There are so many non-software engineering roles in this industry for folks from a non-STEM background, Project Managers, User Experience Designers, Documentation Writers, Talent Acquisition, Security Researchers, I could go on and on! Software Engineers make up just a fraction of what keeps this industry going.
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